Saturday, July 20, 2013

UFO and Christmas Shopping

Quick easy finish. Potholders from leftovers of a casserole cozy I made back in the spring. Mark one off the UFO basket for the week

Ouch!!! Not a cheap gift but we wanted to buy the little girls their first American girl doll this year. The set was $20.00 off, not that big of a deal considering what they cost but something off is better than nothing. This is our first purchase from the Christmas fund for the year, it was a whopper. The big girls and I are kicking around the idea of Santa bringing the gift set, Nanny and Papaw gifting the doll. The doll alone cost $55.00. The gift set alone cost $90.00. Purchasing the bundle saved us $20.00 plus the extra shipping Once the box arrives we will decide if we want to break it all up and split the cost, saving all of us a little cash.

WooHoo, there is something to be said for hanging on to some things for 30 years! Ha I only have two sets of patterns but I made lots of different things from these for our big girls WAY back when. No way, No how could we afford the clothes for the American Girl dolls my Dad gave our big girls one Christmas. I had no idea the doll clothes patterns had been retired :( But don't you know after spending (wasting) time surfing the net I found this site http://www.agplaythings.com/AG%20Patterns/DollDressPatterns.html that you can download all the retired patterns for FREE!! Gotta love that!!

There is nothing to say other than hubby and I are overindulgent when it comes to the grands. I have had a wild hair to buy the little girls a "Bitty Baby" for awhile now. After looking over the latest catalog all week I decided to bite the bullet and hit the purchase button. In 5-8 days the first of two bitty babies should be on the doorstep. Next month we will purchase the other one. I have seen the babies on other shopping sites but I have had too many friends who have been ripped off over the years from less than honest sellers :(

I haven't paid attention to whats been going on with American Girl dolls in???? maybe 15 years. Our youngest DD is now 30 years old. If I remember right we have Molly, Kristen, Addy, Samantha, and one Bitty Baby all tucked away in the attic along with their clothes. Who knew the company has put out SO MANY new dolls. The little girls will inherit their mommies regular size dolls and accessories when they are older. If the mommies want the new models they are on their own HOWEVER.... This Nanny plans on making a few new outfits with the excess fabric I have on hand in the near future.

A trip to the attic is in order so I can dig around and find our old "Bitty Baby" along with all her gear for the grands to play with at our hose. Also need to hunt down the clothes for the regular size dolls so I will know what I should make too add to their wardrobe.

Check out this new blog http://www.janicefergusonsews.com/blog/ I have added to my blog list, sew many sweet things to drool over!!! Her smocking is oh sooo sweet. Someday.........I am going to try this.

Anybody else have your DD's old dolls you have held on too over the years for your Grands?

You are so right about girls Cindy. The boys need shorts, jeans, and a couple of dress pants, tee's and shirts, tennis shoes, dress shoes and undies. The little and big girls, holy mackerel there is no end to it!!

I have a business sewing for AG and Bitty and so I would like to tell you a few things. The older AG dolls from your daughters' childhoods are larger in their shoulders and waists than the newer dolls. I assume that Mattel discovered that they could save a few pennies per doll by making them more slender and using a teeny bit less body fabric and a teeny bit less stuffing. The free downloadable patterns were designed when the dolls were "chunkier". The patterns require a basic knowledge of sewing techniques as they both assume you already know a lot and the directions sometimes use a very roundabout way of doing something not as complicated as they make it. Mattel usually offers a FREE shipping code toward the middle or end of October which will save you probably about $20.00 on the bitty starter set. If you like, I can forward that info to you when it happens. The free shipping offer lasts for about 3 weeks and is intended to motivate customers to shop early to avoid the December rush. If you would like to sew for the bitty babies, may I recommend the patterns by Simplicity -- they fit the best. http://www.simplicity.com/c-290-doll-clothing-accessories.aspx?pagesize=99999999 Pattern 4268 for the bitty twins fits very well. The newer bitties are also somewhat narrower in their bodies and I would suggest that you compare one of the new ones with the one you have before you use the one you have as your model. The sewing section on www.craftgossip.com offers some FREE dolly sewing things. You better not look at the quilting section! LOL You already have plenty of inspiration and motivation!! I would be happy to answer any questions you might have about dolly sewing as I have been clothing dolls since 1971!!!!! Yep, started when I 2 (OK, that is not true!) I ENJOY your blog immensely!

Haaa, too funny one of our grands LOVES baby dolls, the other likes stick, rocks, and mud. Thanks for the info in the babies, I need to catch up on all things new for AM girl dolls!! Headed to you site for a visit, Thanks again for all the info

Yep, these dolls are expensive!! That's why I only have boys...Just kidding!! :) By the way, I got your little package and I LOVE IT!!! My head is already brewing with ideas...Can't wait to play with all this fabric!

About Me

I am the original wife to Bob, Mother to our 3 Girls and Nanny to Tyler, Kara, Karsyn, Mason, and Blake.I love to sew, cook, save money, and Play with our grand babies. In the summer its all about the garden and preserving for the fall and winter (maybe a bit more sewing) Just a normal person on a normal day doing the normal things that God has blessed us with each day